Petunia plant named ‘Keisurfputem’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Keisurfputem’, characterized by its mounding to trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; dark red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KEISURFPUTEM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Keisurfputem’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Katori, Chiba, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new decumbent and freely flowering Petunia plants with early flowering habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in September, 2005 in Katori, Chiba, Japan of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 06L-115, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 99L-16, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Katori, Chiba, Japan in March, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Katori, Chiba, Japan since March, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Keisurfputem’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Keisurfputem’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Mounding to trailing and decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Dark red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are broader than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have deep purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are broader than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the Petunia ‘Sunpurple’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,358. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Katori, Chiba, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunpurple’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were shorter and broader than         plants of ‘Sunpurple’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had shorter internodes than plants         of ‘Sunpurple’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Sunpurple’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Sunpurple’.     -   5. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller sepals than plants of         ‘Sunpurple’.     -   6. Plants of the new Petunia had longer peduncles than plants of         ‘Sunpurple’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Keisurfputem’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Keisurfputem’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 9-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Katori, Chiba, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Keisurfputem’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 06L-115, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 99L-16, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at             temperatures of 15° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 15° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 15° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 15° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Mounding to trailing and decumbent             plant habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral             branches developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral             branch development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 38 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 20.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Trailing and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 143C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 141A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 141B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 136B; venation,             close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 143A; venation, close to 144C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 143C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit             typically with numerous flowers developing per plant;             flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about two to             three weeks after planting; long flowering period; flowering             commences naturally in the spring, flowering continuous             throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.3 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 3.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 5.8 mm.             Shape: Cylindrical; apex, twisted. Color: Close to 79B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 2.5 cm. Petal width: About 2.9 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire;             undulate. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 80A. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to 80B. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             N74A; venation, close to 79A; color becoming closer to 77A             with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to N74C; venation, close to 79B. Throat: Close to N74B;             venation, close to 79A. Tube: Close to 77C; venation, close             to 79B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Tubular star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.6 cm. Sepal             width: About 4.5 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly elliptic. Sepal             apex: Broadly acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, immature and             mature, upper surface: Close to 137B. Color, immature and             mature, lower surface: Close to 143A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent; viscid. Color: Close             to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Roughly             round. Anther color: Close to 97B. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 97D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 1.6 cm. Style length: About             1.4 cm. Style color: Close to 144C. Stigma shape: Roughly             round. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Seeds and fruits: Seed             and fruit development have not been observed on plants of             the new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Keisurfputem’ as illustrated and described. 